Adjustable display and storage device



Sept. 20, 1960 c. A. PHILLIPS 2,953,244

ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY AND STORAGE DEVICE Filed April 30. 1958 United Staf@ o 2,953,244 i ADIUSTABLE DISPLAY AND STORAGE DEVICE Curtis A. Phillips, 4053 Plain Drive, Des Meines, iowa Filed Apr. so, 195s, ser. Ne. 13z,o19 Y 4claims. (ctms-144)" stores have elongated spaced apart island shelving gen-v l enally called gondolas. The space betweenethe gondolas are the aisles used by the customers. `Each end of each of the island gondolas isan ideal place for the displaying of special merchandise. Some merchants attemptto place baskets or display boxes at each end of the gondolas, but such display vmeans is easilypupset, is n ot in keeping with the store design yand is not selectively adjustable* topmeet the requirements of dierent types of merchandise.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a combination display stand and storage container for use at the ends of store gondolas.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display stand that is capable of being telescoped to provide selection adjustment.

A still further object of this invention is .to provide a combination display stand and storage container that is strong and rigid.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide an adjustable display table and storage container that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and rened in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in -the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device with the lid elevated to more fully illustrate its construction,

Fig. 2 is ya front view of my device, installed at the end of a store gondola and with sections cut away to illustrate the arrangement of certain of its movable parts,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device with broken lines to show how it may be expanded to provide more table display area,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the device in contracted condition and taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the track guide and is taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The main base portion of the device is in the form of an elongated rectangular box portion having a back 10, bottom 11, ends 12 and 13, and a split front of two portions 14 and 15, as shown in Fig. l. The numeral 16 designates a partition extending from the inner end of the portion 14 rearwardly to the back 10. The numeral 17 designates a second partition but extending from the inner end of the front rearwardly to the back 10. The two partitions 16 and 17 are spaced apart to provide an open groove track 18 open at its top and forward end. These two partitions also produce the two compartments 19 and 20 in the rectangular base,

at their tops, as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral 21 generally designates the slidable movable portion ofthe device comprising a front portion 22, and two rearwardly extending end portions 23 and 24. The height of ther front 22 is substantially that of the height of the box` base portion, but its length is greater than that ofthe length of the box base, so that the two end portions 23 and 24 will be capable of sliding at each side of the base box ends 12 and 13, respectively, as shown in Fig.A 4. The ends 23 and 12 and the ends 24 and 13 are horirv zontally slidably -secured together by any suitable means.;`

In the drawings I use the numeral 2S to designate a horizontal groove track on the outer side of each of the ends 12 and 13. Each of these tracks has its width extendingl Y, first outwardly and downwardly and then inwardly andl vertically upwardly. The numeral 26 designates a .hori, zontal groove track on the inner side of each of the ends 23 and 24. Each of these tracks has its width exA tending rst inwardly and upwardly and/then outwardly.

and 'vertically downwardly at the outer side of the ve`rti.y cal portion of the adjacent track 25. By thisl arrangement,

the parts 25 and 26 provide a double dovetail groove at each side of the device. Thesetracks `prevent the ends 23 and 24 `from spreading apart, yet permit the unit '21 j; tol be manually slid-forwardly relative tol the base boxor slid rearwardlyinto telescoped condition on the basef box as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 27 designates a rectangular lid or table top with its rear edge hinged to the top of the base box back 10. The dimensions of this lid 27 are such, when in lowered condition, to cover the open top of the base box. The numeral 28 designates a second rrectangular lid or table top having its rear edge hinged to the forward edge ofthe lid 27, and capable of being swung upwardly and back upon the top of the lid 27, as shown in Fig. 2, or swung forwardly of the lid 27, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 3. Thus, this lid 28 is capable of resting on and covering the unit 21, when the unit is extended. If the unit 21 is extended it is capable of being entirely covered by the lid 28. On the center top of the unit 21 is a vertical stub post 29 adapted to selectively extend into and engage either the hole 30 in the lid 27 or the hole 31 in the lid 28. When my device is installed the back 10 is placed adjacent the end of the gondola 32. The numeral 35 designates a rearwardly extending guiding wall tongue, on the center rear side of the front 22, and which slidably extends into the space 18 between the two partitions 16 and 17.

If it is desired Ito use a minimum of table area at the end of a gondola, the unit 21 is slid toward the base housing and into a telescoped condition as shown in Fig. 4. The lid 28 is resting on the lid 27 and the locking stub post 29 will be in the hole well 30 of the =lid 27. The underside of the lid 28 will be uppermost and will serve as the display table top. If it is desired to extend the area of the table top, the lids 27 and 28 must first be elevated to clear the stub post 29, after which the unit 21 is slid forwardly to a position shown by broken lines in Fig. 3. The lids 27 and 28 are lowered with the lid 28 in extended position and with its hole 31 embracing the stub post 29 yand thus locking the unit 21 against sliding movement in either direction. Thetops of both lids 27 and 28 will now represent the display table top. The unit 21 will also (when extended) provide storage compartments forward of the compartments 19 and 20. The lids 27 and 28 may support `and display any suitable type of merchandise for sale. If desired, containers or retainers may be placed on the lids 27 and 28 to hold small articles of merchandise.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my adjustable display and storage device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my Patented Sept. 20, 1961);'

3 invention, anditv is my`intention` to cover by my claims, any' modified forms of structure orV use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I`claim:y

l". Ina display device, afrectangular basebox having atleast a back, andv two ends, an extendable slidableunit` havingl a front and two ends slidably adjacent the twoj ends of said base box, respectively, a lid platform hinged`r tothe back of said base box, a second lid hinged to Vsaidrst lid and capableof being selectively folded back uponsaid iirst lid or lowered onto said slidable unit when said slidable unit is in extended position relative to said base box, 'anda rearwardlyv extending wall tongue on the rear side ofthefront of said slidable unit, slidably extending into saidbase box.

' 2. In a display device, a rectangular base box having atleast a back, and two ends, an extendable slidable/unit having a front and two ends slidably adjacent the two ends of said base box, respectively, a lid platform hinged box, and a rearwardly extending wall tongue on the rear' center side of the front of said slidable unit, slidably extending into said base box;

3. In a display device, a rectangular base box having at least -a back, two spaced apart partitions, and two ends, an extendable. slidable unit having a front and two ends slidably adjacent the two ends of said base box, re

y spaced apart partitions of-Isaid'base box.

4. In a display device, a rectangular base box having atleast aback, two* spaced apart vertical partitions, and twoends, an extendable slidable unit, havingv a' frontand' two ends slidably adjacent the two ends of said base box, respectively, a lid platform hinged to thev back of said base box, a second lid hinged to said first lid and capable of being selectively folded back upon said first lid or lowered onto said slidable unit when said slidable unit is in extended position relative to said base box, and a rearwardly extending vertical wall tongue on the rear side=of"tl`1efront` of"said`slid`ab1e unit, slidably extending between thev tWospaced apart partitions of saidbase box.

References Cited Vin the le ofthis patentv UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,008,447 Distler` Nov, 14, 1911t 1,098,132 Spitz May 26, 1914 1,120,955 Martin Dec. 15, l9`-14 1,186,194 Hohfelt June 6', 1916 2,470,223 Powels May 17, 1949-V 2,597,846 Resser May 27, 1952' 

